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"You should double-check the second cell," Elton said fro curds of sheep’s cheese fro with the second cell"

"Just do it," he said "Trust hed and called the battery e on nu: 53 percent, 52 The te up as well He would have asked Elton how he’d known but his ansas always the samatic cck of the head, as if to say, I could hear it, Michael

"Open the relay," Elton advised "Do it again and see if it settles down"

Second Evening Bell was moments away Well, they could run on the other five cells if they had to, then figure out what the probleas in the line, and closed it again The meter stayed flat at 55

"Static is all," said Elton, as Second Bell began to ring He gave his spoon a little wave "That relay’s a bit squirrelly, though We should swap it out"

The door of the Lighthouse opened then Elton lifted his face

"That you, Sara?"

Michael’s sister stepped inside, still dressed to ride and covered in dust "Evening, Elton"

"Nohat’s that I s from ear to ear "Mountain lilac?"

She pushed a strand of sweat-dampened hair from behind an ear "I smell like sheep, Elton But thanks" She directed her words to Michael "Are you coht he should probably stay where he ith one of the cells acting up Night was also the best time for the radio But he hadn’t eaten all day, and at the thought of warm food, his stomach let loose an eed "I knohere to find you if I need you You go now if you like"

"You wantfroot plenty"

But Elton shook his head, as he always did "Not tonight, thanks" He took the earphones froot the whole orld for cohts After so many hours in the dilare away They e sheds, toward the pens; the air was rich with the organic funk of ani of the herd and, as they walked, the nickering of horses froed the field, underneath the south wall, Michael could see the runnersthe catwalks, their shapes silhouetted against the spots Michael saw Sara watching also, her eyes distant and preoccupied, shining with reflected light

"Don’t worry," Michael said "He’ll be fine"

His sister didn’t respond; he wondered if she’d heard hi more until they reached the house At the kitchen pump, Sara washed up while Michael lit the candles; she stepped out onto the back porch and returned a ood-sized jackrabbit by the ears

"Flyers," Michael said, "where’d you get him?"

Sara’s mood had lifted; her face wore a proud smile Michael could see the wound where Sara’s arrow had skewered the anih the throat

"Upper Field, just above the pits I was riding along and there he was, right out in the open"

How long had it been since Michael had eaten rabbit? Since anyone had even seen a rabbit? Most of the wildlife was long gone, except for the squirrels, which seemed to multiply even faster than the virals could kill them off, and the smaller birds, the sparrows and wrens, which they either didn’t want or couldn’t catch

"You want to clean him?" Sara asked

"I’m not even sure I’d remember how," Michael confessed

Sara made a face of exasperation and drew her blade from her belt "Fine, make yourself useful and set the fire"

They made the rabbit into a steith carrots and potatoes from the bin in the cellar, and cornmeal to thicken the sauce Sara claimed to remember their father’s recipe, but Michael could tell she was guessing It didn’tfro the whole house with a cozy war time Sara had taken the empty skin out to the yard to scrape it while Michael tended the stove, waiting for her return He had bowls and spoons set when she stepped back inside, wiping her hands on a rag

"You know, I know you’re not going to listen to me, but you and Elton should be careful"